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Pro Stock champ Greg Anderson knows what's at stake at NHRA Nationals

June 25, 2014

Greg Anderson is just 26 points out of 10th place in the Pro Stock standings. Photo by NHRA Media

Since returning to the driver's seat six races ago following heart surgery in February, four-time Pro Stock world champion Greg Anderson has seen steady improvement out of his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro. But Anderson will be pleased only if improvement leads to victories. In that regard, Anderson remains unsatisfied.

Anderson has advanced to two final rounds since his return, but he has not been able to take the final step. Anderson is ready for that breakthrough after a winless streak has stretched more than two years and 44 total races, and an ideal time would be the upcoming eighth annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, which takes place July 3-6 at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, a popular dragstrip owned by the Bader family that sits just west of Cleveland.

Currently 12th in Pro Stock points in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, a victory would also do wonders in boosting his chances for qualifying for the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship.

“We're definitely getting there, but we're not where we need to be,” Anderson said. “We're progressing and we're finding a way to go rounds against some extremely tough competition. There has absolutely never been a year like this before. It's a much tougher challenge to crack into the top 10. We have to get back to winning races. To get into the Countdown, you have to be able to win, and that's the way it should be.”

Khalid alBalooshi (Top Fuel), Johnny Gray (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year's winners of the event that will once again be televised on ESPN2. It is the 13th of 24 events during the 2014 NHRA season and nobody has to explain to Anderson the importance of doing well in Norwalk.

He has two previous victories at the facility, and with Summit Racing Equipment's headquarters also being an hour away, Anderson has always understood the magnitude of this race.

“It's definitely the biggest and the most important of the Summit-sponsored races,” Anderson said. “This race means a lot to them, and it obviously means a lot to us. You better do your best to impress them, and we need to have a big weekend. There's definitely extra importance on this race. But we like that extra pressure, and this is a special event all the way around.”

A victory would make it that much sweeter, and Anderson appears to be closing in on that. He advanced to the semifinals at the most recent event in Epping, N.H. before falling to eventual winner Dave Connolly and posted runner-up finishes in Atlanta and Englishtown.

The next step is getting more performance out of his Camaro. Anderson showed potential in Epping, qualifying seventh with a performance of 6.512 seconds at 213.10 mph, marking his best qualifying position this season.

“Right now we're a couple hundredths behind, and in this class right now, that's usually not going to get it done,” Anderson said. “We need a little more performance, and that's what it takes to get race wins. You're not going to get lucky for four straight rounds. Everything has to be perfect, or you're not going to win races.”

The loaded Pro Stock field is headed by points leader Erica Enders-Stevens, who has three wins in 2014. Vincent Nobile will be after his third win in Norwalk, while Anderson will also be challenged by the likes of reigning world champ Jeg Coughlin, Allen Johnson, Shane Gray, Connolly, Jason Line, Jonathan Gray and V Gaines.

Anderson has also dealt with a nearly nonstop schedule since returning and Norwalk will mark the fourth consecutive race weekend during a rigorous summer stretch. A week off follows that race before the Western Swing, which finishes off a stretch of 10 races in 12 weeks. Currently 26 points out of 10th place, Anderson simply sees it as an opportunity to make up ground.

“As racers, you want to race as much as you can,” Anderson said. “The more races the better, as far as I'm concerned. I can't wait to get back at it and I really like these stretches. The more we race the better we can be.”

Top Fuel points leader Doug Kalitta ,fell in the final round to alBalooshi a season ago, but will take plenty of momentum into this year's race in hopes of scoring his first win at the track. The list of challengers in the ultra-competitive class reads long and includes the likes of two-time season winner Spencer Massey, Epping winner Tony Schumacher, Antron Brown, reigning world champion Shawn Langdon, reigning Auto Club of Southern California Road the Future Award winner Brittany Force, Englishtown winner Richie Crampton, J.R. Todd and Steve Torrence.

With Johnny Gray having retired at the end of last season, the Funny Car field is wide open in Norwalk. Points leader Robert Hight has never won at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park but is seeking a fifth win in 2014. To get it he will have to get past a talented field featuring the likes of previous Norwalk winners Jack Beckman, Tony Pedregon and Tim Wilkerson, as well as Cruz Pedregon, reigning world champion John Force, two-time season winner Alexis DeJoria, Topeka winner Courtney Force, Ron Capps, who won in Epping, and Bristol winner Tommy Johnson Jr.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Andrew Hines is the defending race winner and the hottest rider so far this season. His two victories has given Hines the category points lead and teammate Eddie Krawiec has one victory and is second in points. Reigning world champ Matt Smith has two wins at the facility and is looking for his first in 2014, while his wife Angie Smith won her first event recently in Epping. Scotty Pollacheck, Michael Ray, John Hall and Hector Arana Jr. also will tangle for the right to hold the 2014 Norwalk Wally in the two-wheel category.

Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying begins Friday, July 4, with sessions at 4:45 and 7:15 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, July 5, at 4:45 and 7:15 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 6.